So after spending hours on Columbia’s campus, talking to students, roaming College Walk, and checking out the polling stations in Wein Hall, we had yet to see any substantial proof on campus that Hillary’s campaign actually exists here. After spending time talking to students, voters, and poll workers in Wein Hall, we saw someone wearing a Hillary button!

When I approached her, Barnard junior Mara Richard was exactly what I’d hoped for — an active member of Students for Hillary here at Columbia, as well as a member of Hillary’s campaign staff. I started to ask her the question that has been on our minds all day: We’ve seen Obama, but –

“–Where’s Hillary?” she finished for me, mentioning that it’s a common question on campus. “That question is very reflective of today, but I don’t think it’s reflective of the way students are voting.”

Richard described the Columbia support for Hillary as less focused on campus visibility, and more involved in off-campus and city campaign efforts. “It’s not so much focused on, ‘Let’s all put signs in our windows,’” she said. The Hillary supporters have set up a phonebanking base on 125th street, which is an off-campus location. According to Richard, they’ve been involved much more with Hillary’s campaign staff and headquarters off-campus, and take groups of interested Columbia students to Hillary events around the city rather than just here at Columbia.

Why is it that Hillary’s supporters have conceded campus visibility to Students for Obama? According to Columbia Democrats Media Director Jonathan Backer, it’s an issue of resources available to the Hillary campaign here in New York. “Because this is Hillary Clinton’s home state, the Students for Hillary chapter have lots of connections to people who make up her local presence, including major contributors, lobbyists who work for her, people who work on her staff,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a different means of getting out the vote for Students for Hillary than Students for Obama. Students for Hillary go directly to the source, and Students for Obama have much more of an organic operation.”

Tags: Hillary, New York, Super Tuesday

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